Dead End?

<p>I'm a high school junior and there has recently been a big focus on figuring out majors and college stuff and the like in my classes. Recently I have determined that I do have a passion for something in the health career field. I'm currently in an anatomy and physiology class and I find the material extremely intriguing. I have given thought to pathology as I am also interested in finding and diagnosing disease more so than treating it. I am currently thinking about getting a bachelor's degree in health sciences or human physiology and go on to pursue an M.D. My only worry is that I might changes my mind halfway through the bachelors degree and want to pursue a more business oriented career which I have also given much thought to. My question is, what kind of jobs are out there for a bachelor's in health and an MBA?</p>

<p>I would not choose your major based on which jobs are available. My philosophy is, if you love what you are doing, money will come. But… it seems you are still trying to figure out what you like. I would suggest that you start in the science and then switch into business if you want to. I have heard it is a lot harder to switch from business to science when you go to college, but it is doable. </p>

<p>Remember, that you typically do not have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year in college (which is when you are afraid you might change your mind). Depending on the school, your freshmen year will consist of gen eds anyway, and your sophomore year you can explore what you like by selecting certain classes. You have plenty of time before you decide what you want to do. You are not supposed to know yet, so do not freak out about it too much. Just make sure you apply to a school with strong business and science programs in case you change your mind. You have like 4 years, though, really. And you will probably change your mind again before you graduate from high school. Also, remember that even once you declare your major, you could always change your mind (you just might have to spend more time in school to get your degree).</p>

<p>You don’t need to have a bachelor’s in a science field to go to med school. You just have to take the pre-reqs. Why not just major in a buisness related field of your choice and fullfill the med school requirements? </p>

<p>I think for an MBA they usually want you to have buisness work experience…which could be difficult if your undergrad degree is in a science field.</p>

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I am of the opinion that is the worst advice ever given to young people as evidenced by the Barista’s serving coffee at Starbucks with liberal arts degrees. It is a product of a bygone era where any college degree was valued by companies and you would be hired in an entry level position and given training. That doesn not exist anymore. Companies do not train, they look for prequalified purple squirrels with relevant degrees. If you study a subject with poor or no career prospects you won’t be working in a job related to your field anyways and how much satisfaction will you get out of a classical literature degree collecting carts in a Walmart parking lot.</p>

<p>My best adivice is pick a career that you can at least tolerate that pays decently with good jobs availability and then determine how to focus your college education to enter the field.</p>

<p>@ sschoe2: First of all, most people that graduate with liberal arts degrees do not actually love liberal arts; they just could not find anything else to do. And those people typically do not have career goals (not the ones that love liberal arts, the ones that did not know what else to major in). You are right in the respect that something so general and ubiquitous would be virtually useless when it comes to making money, but more specific majors within liberal arts are not. Additionally, the majors that easymac97 is considering are not that kind. People in health care will always be needed just like people in the business field. Secondly, if someone loves something, chances are that he/she is very good at it. I am sure that he/she would be much better at whatever that something is than someone who merely likes it. (Which means he/she is more likely to get hired over someone else who merely likes it). </p>

<p>Also, there are lots of jobs that someone with a classical literature degree could get. Like teaching Latin, Greek, or Ancient civilization, becoming a curator, becoming an archivist, getting involved in PR or getting involved in the advertisement business. Those are only a few examples, though.</p>

<p>Also… picking a career that “you can at least tolerate that pays decently with good jobs availability” is almost impossible to do when you are a junior in high school. No one can predict how the economy will be 100% accurately. By the time easymac97 has graduated from college (5 years from now), no one knows whether that job he could at least tolerate will be in high demand. It may be the job that every company is looking for, or it may not even exist at all.</p>

<p>That is why it is better to have a field that you love rather than a job that you love. That way, you will always have job options in your field.</p>

<p>Although you can’t predict what fields are in demand in the future it is a pretty safe bet that Liberal arts majors will not be in demand. Also the decline in and offshoring of scientific research is likely to continue. The trend for good jobs will likely be in the areas of computer programming/networks, engineering, finance/accounting, and healthcare.</p>

<p>I agree with Sschoe2. I am in medical school now and since coming here I checked out jobs in my hometown. Still no jobs in Chem/Bio or jobs I saw months to a year ago still remained unfilled. I am not missing anything and that encourages me to stay away. In my hometown, there’s a glut of Chemist/Biologist and Liberal Arts majors so getting a job as a lab tech that pays $10 bucks an hour is getting competitive. I have friends on FB complaining about not finding any work. You have to fight and backstab all these applicants for one crummy job opening. Thank God, I don’t have to worry about that crap anymore. Oh, get this, I saw a help wanted sign that said “Cashiers needed, $11/hr”. Are you serious? The same pay when I was a lab tech! Pathetic and a waste of a degree. Whatever…</p>